1. What differences do you note between the two H&Ps?

One thing that I noticed between my H&P 1 and H&P 2 was the difference in my assesment between the two patients. In my first H&P I wasn’t able to formulate multiple ddx and seemed to improve on this in my last H&P.

2. In what ways has your history-taking improved?  Are you eliciting all the important information?

My history taking drastically improved over this semester in regard to my H&P. This semester I am able to formulate multiple ddx with just the patient’s chief complaint, so from there I am able to ask questions that are more pertinent to my patient’s diagnosis. I am still able to come back and ask questions from my ROS that I have missed while taking my patient’s history but with more knowledge, I am able to get a good history from my patient. 

3. In what ways has writing an HPI improved? 

My HPI has improved over the span of the semesters with constructive feedback, allowing me to reflect and compare what things I could improve on.In particular my plan has improved over the semester as I not only take into consideration the acute problem but also chronic problems the patient may be complaining of.

4. What is your self-assessment of your current skill in performing a physical exam? Which areas do you feel strongest about/weakest about?

I am much more comfortable performing a full physical exam on my patients, as our last PD exam encompassed the major details in our physical exam that need to be performed. I am able to smoothly transition from one system to another in my physical exam without having to think about whether I had forgotten anything.

5. Of course we expect you to get stronger in all areas, but which of the specific areas will you target as needing particular focus in future patient visits when you start the clinical year? 

One thing I wish to improve on in my clinical year would have to be parts of my plan, as sometimes a part of the plan encompasses various consults with either different specialities or the involvement of a caseworker or patient care assistant. I have to take into consideration more than just the treatment for the patient but how this treatment will be done based on my patient’s current situation.